Final 4: 1991 Albany-Colonie Yankees

Welcome to the final four! Yes that’s right, we’re down to the final four of Capital Region affiliated minor league baseball. It’s my March madness baseball bracket of sorts and sorry you don’t get a bobblehead if your team wins. When selecting these teams I used a fairly common sense criteria. Title winner. You’re in. Had the best regular season record in your league? You’re in. Although I did make an exception for one “at-large” team. Obviously there were a lot of honorable mentions, from affiliated and non-affiliated teams alike, independent, semi-pro, twilight and negro leagues. Alas I only have so much in the way of time and resources and space to complete this list. Enjoy and let the debate and discussion begin!

3.) 1991 Albany-Colonie Yankees:

This would be the third and final championship team in the history of the Yankees here. That squad went 76-64, sweeping the Hagerstown Suns (3-0) in the first round of the playoffs and then taking the broom to the Harrisburg Senators (3-0) for the title. On that team, first baseman J.T. Snow, shortstop Dave Silvestri, starting pitcher Ed Martel and reliever Larry Stanford were all named season ending Eastern League All-Stars.

It was quite the stacked lineup. Snow hit 13 homers and drove in 76. Silvestri led the league in runs scored (97), led the team in home runs (19), drove in 83 runs and stole 20 bases. Outfielder Vince Phillips led the league with 85-RBI. Catcher Brad Ausmus batted .266. Third baseman Russ Davis had 58-RBI. Outfielder’s Jay Knoblauh and Billy Masse both hit eleven home runs. Outfielder Gerald Williams batted .286 with 18 stolen bases.

From the pitching perspective, Martel went (13-6, 2.81 ERA) and topped the league with 141 strikeouts. Mike Draper won ten games and Andy Cook went 6-3. Stanford saved 24 games and pitched to a 1.89 ERA. Sam Militello, Willie Smith, Russ Springer, Victor Garcia, Mike Gardella and Scott Holcomb also made strong contributions to the staff.